Fantasy Football: Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets
By Pat Pitts
So your Week 1 fantasy game didn't go as planned. Don't let a minor setback prevent you from making a major Week 2 comeback. These guys listed below balled out and are there for the taking on the waiver wire in less than 60% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Upgrade your roster and show your league you mean business by adding one or more of these players this week.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew
Rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues and 15% of ESPN leagues
Gardner Minshew proved to everyone that the Jacksonville Jaguars do indeed have a Quarterback. Minshew went 19/20 for 173 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts on Sunday. Minshew found targets old and new and although he was sacked four times, Minshew looked unfazed and led his team to victory. He’s the QB add of the week by far.
Kirk Cousins
Rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues and 21% of ESPN Leagues
If you miss out on adding Minshew, Kirk Coupons is here to help. Cousins put up 259 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Packers, but those are respectable QB numbers that can help win a matchup. If you aren’t happy with your QB production, go scoop Coupons.
Running Backs
Nyheim Hines
Rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues and 34% of ESPN leagues
Injuries absolutely suck and Nyheim Hines’ additional production for the remainder of the season is going to come at the expense of Marlon Mack’s Achilles injury. Even with Mack active on Sunday, Hines had himself a DAY with eight catches, 73 total yards, and two total touchdowns. Hines is more than likely going to be the number one waiver add this week; so don’t put all your eggs in his basket.
Malcolm Brown
Rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues and 8% of ESPN leagues
Whether Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. fantasy owners want to admit it or not, the Rams backfield is currently owned by Malcolm Brown. The Rams prevented this guy from signing with the Detroit Lions as a restricted free agent for a reason. The leash will be short, but Brown showed up on Sunday Night Football, scoring 26.00 full point PPR points that included two trips to the end zone. Snatch Brown now and utilize him in your lineups while he’s still the number one option. He’s an RB2/FLEX play.
Adrian Peterson
Rostered in 46% of Yahoo leagues and 21% of ESPN leagues
Adrian Peterson slotted into his new role with the Detroit Lions seamlessly. AD rushed for 93 yards on the ground and even added 21 receiving yards. Peterson is the type of RB we as fantasy football players feel we don’t need on our rosters, but we absolutely do during the early parts of the season. At the very least, Peterson should be a serviceable RB3/FLEX until the Lions Bye Week.
Joshua Kelley
Rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues and 11% of ESPN leagues
Joshua Kelley was the clear cut RB2, behind Austin Ekeler, in the Chargers backfield on Sunday. Kelley handled a ton of inside-the-ten carries and found the end zone. Kelley is a great add for 12 and 14-team leagues for RB3/FLEX value and if Ekeler continues to miss out on targets through the air, this backfield could be in for an equal share of opportunities.
Jerrick McKinnon
Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues and 16% of ESPN leagues
Jerrick McKinnon saved his afternoon with a receiving TD, but it was great to see him back in action after missing so much time from injury. The 49ers backfield is clearly led by Raheem Mostert, but McKinnon could be in line for a weekly role and seemed to be ahead of Tevin Coleman on the depth chart on Sunday. He’s a FLEX option for the time being. Benny Snell Jr.
Rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues and 15% of ESPN leagues
Benny Snell Jr. took full advantage of James Conner’s ankle injury during the Steelers Monday Night Football victory over the Giants. Snell Jr. put up 113 yards on 19 carries. An ankle injury for a RB is nothing to mess with. Snell Jr. must be rostered.
Wide Receivers
Russell Gage
Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues and 3.8% of ESPN leagues
The Atlanta Falcons are going to put up fantasy points this season and that will most certainly include Russell Gage. As the Slot WR, Gage totaled 114 yards on nine catches and 12 targets. It’s very possible Matt Ryan leads the NFL in passing yards this season and while yards don’t matter in real football, they definitely do in fantasy football. Gage is a WR3/FLEX option with WR2 upside thanks to Matty Ice.
Parris Campbell
Rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues and 30% of ESPN leagues
Parris Campbell led the Colts with 71 receiving yards on Sunday on six catches. Although he didn’t find the end zone, his role in the offense seems to be clear as the WR2 opposite of T.Y. Hilton. His injury history is a concern, but Campbell has WR2 upside and his floor is a weekly FLEX. The Colts next five matchups before the Bye Week are absolutely JUICY for a WR of Campbell’s caliber. He’s going to feast on DBs for the next month.
Scotty Miller
Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues and 3.7% of ESPN leagues
This is a speculative add, but if there’s one thing we know about Tom Brady, it’s that he loves shifty slot WRs. Miller looked to be one of Brady’s favorite targets on Sunday afternoon, snatching five catches on six targets for 73 yards. Miller is a WR5 stash due in part to a Week 13 Bye and he provides tons of upside if Brady continues to utilize him as the go-to slot WR.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues and 2% of ESPN leagues
Marquez Valdes-Scantling looked like the WR we’ve been sold on for the last couple of years on Sunday afternoon. MVS finished the day with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers was rolling and fed all three of his WRs throughout the game. MVS should be added as a WR3 that has loads of upside because of who’s throwing him the rock.
Tight Ends
Greg Olsen
Rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues and 9% of ESPN leagues
A lot of people probably forgot Greg Olsen signed with the Seahawks this offseason. If you’re someone who just lost Blake Jarwin for the season and need a high upside streaming option, Olsen is a quality option. He found the end zone on Sunday and will definitely be touchdown-dependent all year long, but you could do much worse than Olsen as your TE streaming option.
Dallas Goedert
Rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues and 27% of ESPN leagues
If Dallas Goedert was available in your league before Week 1 got underway, why did you not scoop him up? Goedert was a Top-12 TE to finish 2019 and continued to play the part on Sunday, as he was one of the lone bright spots for the Eagles offense. Goedert is going to be added in droves when claims process so you’ll want to have other options in place unless you have the top waiver wire priority. With the Zach Ertz contract dispute clearly showing it’s face on the field, Goedert is a MUST add as a potential every week TE1.
Working the waiver wire is all part of the master plan of getting that 1-UP mushroom on everyone else in your league. Be smart, assess your roster’s needs, and may the odds be ever in your favor.